In this episode of the Fathering Strong podcast, Eli Williams interviews Jason Messer about his experience as a father raising a special needs child. Jason shares about his own upbringing in a pastor's home and the positive example his father set as a loving and present dad. He then discusses the challenges and blessings of becoming a parent for the first time and the long journey to adopt his son Dominic, who was born with brain damage due to herpes encephalitis. Jason also talks about the dynamics of balancing the needs of his special needs child with his other children and his career in law enforcement.
Takeaways
- The importance of having a positive role model for fatherhood
- The challenges and blessings of adopting a special needs child
- The need for flexibility and support in balancing the needs of a special needs child with other responsibilities
- The impact of prenatal care on a child's health
- The importance of serving and loving your spouse in the midst of parenting challenges
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction and Background
06:14 - Growing Up in a Stable Home
09:37 - Adopting a Special Needs Child
23:09 - Navigating Support Systems
25:41 - Balancing Career and Parenting
30:21 - Lessons Learned and Conclusion
